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Automobile thefts occur once every 27 seconds in the United States. One in every five vehicles stolen has the keys inside. In Oakdale, we have had 58 vehicles stolen and 36 vehicle burglaries in the city in the last 10 months. There are many ways you can reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

The month of June is set aside as a celebration of all things dairy. In California it also is a celebration of Real California Milk and the hardworking dairy families who bring this nutritious food to the table.

California milk and dairy foods are high-quality, economical food sources that come in an endless array of flavors and formats to satisfy every palate. We want high quality and we want value; we want healthy options and we want to indulge; we want choice and we want to know where our food comes from. Dairy delivers in all of these areas.

Both the South San Joaquin and the Oakdale Irrigation Districts are in a fight for their lives against the federal government's misguided attempts at helping salmon and steelhead in the South Delta. Our two agencies have filed suit to stop the same government decision that shut the pumps down on the westside of the Central Valley and destroyed much of its agriculture and economy last year. That same decision (known as the Biological Opinion), if not changed, will do the same here on the Stanislaus River; significantly impacting our local communities.

In the field of education as we approach the end of each year,educatorsevaluate how much growth they have achieved during the year. Those individuals then make a plan and determine what steps need to be taken to make next year even better. This evaluation and renewal process is very healthy and positive. On occasion the plan they select is bittersweet for the people who admire and appreciate them. Every year some great individuals decide that it is time to leave the job that they have dedicated their lives to and choose to retire. This year is no exception ...

Two weeks ago, Jan Brewer, Governor of Arizona, signed SB 1070 into law. Also known as the "Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act," this bill is an extremely stringent piece of immigration enforcement legislation.

Regardless of the time of day that I am on patrol, there is one traffic infraction I am sure to see: pedestrians crossing F Street outside the confines of a clearly marked crosswalk. You've seen it, too. Referred to as "jaywalking," it is clearly unsafe. Everyone has jaywalked at some point in their life. Many think of this as a "victimless" crime. However, in 2009 there were 17 pedestrians injured in traffic accidents in Oakdale, two of which I personally investigated. Just last month, a man lost his life crossing the highway near downtown Oakdale. "Victimless?" I don't ...

As people look at the newspapers and listen to the media reports across California, many of them are asking me questions as to why the Oakdale School District seems to be in better shape than most other districts.

In a major crisis, our first impulse is to address people's immediate needs. With the Haiti and Chile earthquakes, that meant providing food and shelter to the victims. In the case of the recent economic recession, the government stepped in by extending unemployment insurance, providing COBRA subsidies and promoting mortgage refinancing guidelines, among many other programs.

A number of California newspaper publications recently ran stories about how DUI/drivers' license checkpoints serve to benefit police departments, police officers and tow truck companies. These stories appear to be based on a study conducted by an investigative news entity that calls itself "California Watch." The author suggests that, because there has been an increasing trend in the use of DUI/drivers' license checkpoints and a corresponding increase in the number of vehicles impounded, local governments are using the fines as a means to make up for budget shortfalls. The report implies that checkpoints are cash cows for overtime-hungry ...

The Agricultural Council of California (Ag Council) recently concluded a successful joint meeting with CoBank. More than 150 farmers and cooperative members met during the Ag Council's 91st Annual Meeting in Sonoma to discuss issues impacting the future of agriculture in California and the United States.

The Oakdale Sports Boosters is 35 years old and going strong. On Saturday March 6th the Boosters held their annual dinner dance and auction. The Oakdale Sports Boosters did a fabulous job of both honoring the past and looking forward to the future. The Oakdale Sports Boosters Officers and Board of Directors had a large array of auction items, silent bid items and a short program that highlighted the beginnings of the group.

"One fish. Two fish … Some are red. And some are blue. Some are old. And some are new. Some are sad. And some are glad. And some are very, very bad." These lines from a famous Dr. Seuss book also symbolize the current imbalance of native Chinook salmon to non-native predator fish in the Delta waterways.

Within the past few weeks the Oakdale Police Department has seen an increase in vehicle burglaries throughout the City of Oakdale. Because of this, vehicle burglaries are becoming one of the most common crimes occurring within the City of Oakdale. Here are some simple helpful tips to avoid becoming a victim of a vehicle burglary.